Drawer structure with hand free releasing lock

ABSTRACT

A drawer releasing device includes a docking frame and an actuation unit. The docking frame includes a mounting base and a slider platform slidably and inclinedly mounted on the mounting base to slide between a slide-in storage position that the slider platform is disposed within a drawer compartment and a slide-out accessing position that the slider platform is slid out of the drawer compartment, wherein the mounting base is normally retained at the slide-in storage position. The actuation unit includes a hand-free actuator positioned out of the drawer compartment and an actuating cable which is extended from the docking frame to the actuator and is arranged in such a manner that when the actuator is operated for providing an initial momentum of the slider platform, the slider platform is automatically sliding out of the drawer compartment in a hand-free manner.

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

The is a Continuation-In-Part (CIP) application of a non-provisionalapplication having an application number of Ser. No. 11/192,776 and afiling date of Jul. 29, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a drawer, and more particularly to adrawer releasing device which is capable of releasing a drawer throughsimple actuation at a distance therefrom.

2. Description of Related Arts

A conventional drawer usually comprises a drawer body and a front panel,wherein the drawer body is slidably mounted on a drawer compartmentformed on a cabinet so that a user is able to slide the drawer body inand out of the drawer compartment for achieving different purposes.

Drawers have widely been utilized in a wide variety of circumstances anda number of accessories have been incorporated into conventional drawersin order to fit new situations in which a drawer may be utilized. Forexample, power unit has been incorporated into conventional drawer sothat the user does not need to manually open or close the drawer.

Despite their long and widespread applications, there exist severaldeep-seated disadvantages which need to be addressed. First, the mostusual way of opening a drawer is by the user's hand. From the view pointof many, this may seem inevitable because one nevertheless has tomanually open a drawer in order to retrieve or put in something. Yetthere exist situations where it is not desirable or convenient for theuser's hand to touch the drawer's handle for opening it. For example,when the user is in the middle of doing something in which his/her handsare contacting with, say, dirty materials or raw food (if the drawer ina kitchen), the user may not wish to let his/her hands touching thedrawer's handle for opening the drawer, even though in fact the useractually needs to open the drawer for retrieving something which he/sheneeds at that moment.

Second, if a drawer is fully loaded so that a considerable amount offorce is required to pull the drawer out of the drawer compartment, theuser may not have enough power to do so. This problem may not be thatsevere for drawers used in domestic environment, yet in workplaces suchas in the office, a particular cabinet may contain a huge amount offiles so that the user may not be able to pull the particular drawersout of the corresponding drawer compartments for retrieving, say,particular files.

If the drawer is positioned at a very low position, such as the lowestin a cabinet, it is difficult then for a user to effectively exert largeamount of force for pulling the drawer out of the drawer compartment.

Obviously, one may purchase motorized drawers for resolving the aboveproblems, but the main problem is that motorized drawers are usuallyexpensive and as a result may not be affordable for general households.Moreover, even though one may afford to purchase sophisticated drawers,the first problem is still not yet resolved since the relevant usersstill have to use their hands for operating any control panels or evenremote controllers.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide a drawer releasingdevice for a drawer, wherein the drawer releasing device is capable ofreleasing the drawer through simple actuation at a distance therefrom ina hand-free manner. In other words, a user of the present invention doesnot need to physically touch the drawer for pulling it out.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drawer releasingdevice which is capable of automatically releasing a drawer out of thedrawer compartment upon a simple actuation of an actuation unit extendedout of the drawer by the user of the present invention. In other words,when the drawer is fully loaded, the user does not need to exert largeamount of force for trying to pull put the drawer from the drawercompartment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drawer releasingdevice which is adjustable in its orientation and easy to assemble anddisassemble so as to fit a wide variety of drawer compartment in orderto facilitate widespread application of the present invention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drawer releasingdevice which can be adopted to use in conjunction with a wide variety ofcontainers for fitting a wide variety of different circumstances. Forexample, a slider platform may be adapted to support rubbish bins or abasket for normally receiving the rubbish bin or the basket into adrawer compartment while automatically releasing the rubbish bin to beextended for convenient access by the user of the present invention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drawer releasingdevice which does not involve electrical components and even complicatedmechanical component, so that the manufacturing cost and the ultimateselling price of the present invention can be kept to minimum.

Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the presentinvention provides a drawer releasing device for a cabinet having adrawer compartment, wherein the drawer releasing device comprises:

a docking frame, which is adapted for supporting within the drawercompartment of the drawer, comprising a mounting base and a sliderplatform slidably and inclinedly mounted on the mounting base to slidebetween a slide-in storage position that the slider platform is disposedwithin the drawer compartment and a slide-out accessing position thatthe slider platform is slid out of the drawer compartment, wherein themounting base is normally retained at the slide-in storage position; and

an actuation unit which comprises a hand-free actuator positioned out ofthe drawer compartment and an actuating cable which is extended from thedocking frame to the actuator and is arranged in such a manner that whenthe actuator is operated for providing an initial momentum of the sliderplatform, the slider platform is automatically sliding out of the drawercompartment in a hand-free manner.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drawer releasing device for a draweraccording to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the drawer releasing deviceaccording to the above first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the drawer releasing device accordingto the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the drawer releasing device accordingto the above first preferred embodiment of the present inventionillustrating that the slider platform is in the storage position.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the drawer releasing device accordingto the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention,illustrating that the slider platform is in the accessing position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the drawer releasing device according tothe above first preferred embodiment of the present invention,illustrating that the inclination adjuster is formed in the mountingbase.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a drawer releasing device according to asecond preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a first schematic diagram of the drawer releasing deviceaccording to the above second preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a second schematic diagram of the drawer releasing deviceaccording to the above second preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a drawer releasing device according tothe a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are schematic diagrams of the drawer releasingdevice according to the above third preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is an alternative mode of the drawer releasing device accordingto the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of the alternative mode of the drawerreleasing device according to the above third preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a drawer releasing devicefor a cabinet 80 according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated, in which the drawer releasing device comprisesa docking frame 10 and a locking arrangement 20. The cabinet 80, such asa conventional cabinet, has at least one drawer compartment 70 formedbetween two sidewalls, wherein the drawer releasing device is preferablyto be fittedly received in the drawer compartment 70 for releasablyreceiving a drawer 60 therein.

Thus, the docking frame 10 is adapted for supporting within the drawercompartment 70 of the cabinet 80, and comprises a mounting base 11 and aslider platform 12 slidably and inclinedly mounted on the mounting base11 to slide between a slide-in storage position that the slider platform12 is disposed within the drawer compartment 70, and a slide-outaccessing position that the slider platform 12 is slid out of the drawercompartment 70.

On the other hand, the locking arrangement 20 comprises a locking unit21 and an actuation unit 22, in which the locking unit 21 issubstantially mounted on the mounting base 11 to releasably engage withthe slider platform 12 to lock up the slider platform 12 at said storageposition.

The actuation unit 22 comprises an actuator 221 positioned out of thedrawer compartment 70 and an actuating cable 222 which is extended fromthe locking unit 21 to the actuator 221 and is arranged in such a mannerthat when the actuator 221 is operated to release an engagement of thelocking unit through the actuating cable 222, the slider platform 12 isautomatically sliding out of the drawer compartment 70 in a hand-freemanner.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, themounting base 11 comprises a pair of sliding tracks 111 alignedlymounted on an inner side of the sidewalls of the drawer compartment 70wherein the slider platform 12 is slidably and inclinedly mounted withthe sliding tracks 111 for sliding between the storage position and theaccessing position alone the two sliding tracks 111 in a speedcontrolling manner. As a result, each of the sliding tracks 111comprises a plurality of rolling balls 1111 rotatably provided thereinfor facilitating a sliding motion of the slider platform 12 with respectto the sliding tracks 111 in a speed controlled manner. In other words,the rolling balls 1111 allows controlling the speed of sliding movementof the slider platform 12 by the friction at the rolling balls 1111within the respective sliding tracks 111.

The slider platform 12 is preferably embodied as having a quadrilateralcross section having a pair of elongated longitudinal members 121slidably mounted with the sliding tracks 111 respectively, and threetransverse members 122 transversely and spacedly extended across the twolongitudinal members 121 for securely supporting the drawer 60 on theslider platform 12. For the sake of convenience, the three transversemembers 122 is categorized as a front and a rear transverse members 122extended across the two corresponding end portions of the longitudinalmembers 121 respectively, and a middle transverse member 122 extendedacross two corresponding mid portions of the longitudinal members 121respectively.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 of the drawings, the dockingframe 10 further comprises a drawer panel support 13 upwardly extendedfrom the front transverse member 122 (a front edge) of the sliderplatform 12, wherein a 61 front panel of the drawer 60 is arranged to bemounted on the front transverse member 122 so as to cover the drawercompartment 70 when the slider platform 12 is slid into the storageposition.

In order to maximize the suitability of the drawer releasing device ofthe present invention with different kinds of cabinets 80 havingdifferent geographical structures, the drawer panel support 13 canadjustably and pivotally be mounted with the front transverse member 122so that the front panel 61 is capable of being mounted in a wide varietyof orientations for fitting with different geographical structures ofthe cabinet 80 (FIG. 6). Thus, the front panel 61 can be able to beselectively adjusted in a vertical orientation to fittingly enclose thedrawer compartment 60 when the slider platform 12 is slid thereinto atthe storage position.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 of the drawings, the locking unit 21comprises two locking arms 211, which are pivotally connected to themounting base 10, having two driving ends 2111 engaging with theactuating cable 222 and two engaging ends 2112 to securely clip to theslider platform 12 to retain the slider platform 12 at the storageposition and arranged in such a manner that when the actuating cable 222is slid to move the driving ends 2111 of the locking arms 211 towardseach other, the engaging ends 2112 thereof are pivotally moved torelease the slider platform 12 from the locking arms 211 so as to unlockthe slider platform 12 for freely sliding out of the drawer compartment70.

Moreover, the locking unit 21 further comprises two locking rotors 212rotatably mounted at the engaging ends 2112 of the locking arms 211respectively to engage with the slider platform 12 for allowing theslider platform 12 being manually slid out from the drawer compartment70 when a pulling force is applied on the slider platform 12.

It is worth mentioning that the driving end 2111 of one of the lockingarms 211 is affixed to the actuating cable 222 while the driving end2111 of another of the locking arm 211 is slidably mounted to theactuating cable 222, such that when the actuating cable 222 is pulled bythe actuator 221 to move the driving ends 2111 of the locking arms 211towards each other, the engaging ends 2112 of the locking arms 211 aremoved away from each other to release the slider platform 12.

The locking unit 21 further comprises a resilient element 213 having twoends biasing against the driving ends 2111 of the locking arms 211respectively so as to apply an urging force on the locking arms 211 toensure the slider platform 12 being clipped by the engaging ends 2112 ofthe locking arms 211.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each ofthe locking arms 211 has gear joint 214 formed between the driving end2111 and the engaging end 2112, wherein the gear joints 214 of thelocking arms 211 are coupled with each other to control the engagingends 2112 of the locking arms 211 engaging with the slider platform 12in a coordinating manner.

Furthermore, the locking unit 21 further comprises a locker base 215transversely extended on the mounting base 11 of the docking frame 10,wherein the locking arms 211 are provided on the locker base 215 forengaging with the slider platform 12 when it is slid at the storageposition.

Accordingly, the locking arrangement 20 further comprises an engagingmember 23 provided on one of the transverse members 122 and arranged toreleasably engage with the locking arms 211 of the locking unit 21 whenthe slider platform 12 is slid at the storage position. In other words,the engaging member 23 is at the corresponding position with the lockingarms 211 so that when the slider platform 12 is at the storage position,the engaging member 23 and the lock engaging device 212 are releasablyengaged so as to normally retain the slider platform 12 at the storageposition, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

In other words, the user of the present invention is able to manuallypull out the slider platform 12 from the storage position to theaccessing position by exerting a sufficient amount of pulling force toovercome the inward biasing force exerted by the resilient element 213to the engaging member 23. However, it is important to realize that thebiasing force exerted by the resilient element 213 is such that theslider platform 12 is normally locked up and retained at the storageposition if there is no extra pulling force exerted by the user of thepresent invention.

On the other hand, the actuator 221 is extended out of the cabinet 80 bythe actuating cable 222 so that the user of the present invention mayrelease the engagement between the slider platform 12 and the lockengaging device 212 at a distance through operating upon the actuator221. Therefore, the actuator 221 can be selectively located away fromthe docking frame 10 for operating the locking arrangement 20. Morespecifically, the actuating cable 222, which is preferably embodied as ametal-made wire enclosed with durable and flexible plastic materials,has a driving end portion extended away from the drawer compartment 70and connected with the actuator 221, and a driven end portionoperatively connected with locking arms 211 in such a manner that whenthe actuator 221 is operated, the driven end portion of the actuatingcable 222 is pulled to exert an urging force towards the locking arms211 for pivotally driving the locking arms 211 to disengage with theengagement member 23 provided on the slider platform 12 so as to releasethe engagement between the slider platform 12 and the mounting base 11.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, theactuator 221 comprises first and second actuation members 2211, 2212pivotally connected with each other in such a manner that the firstactuation member 2211 is adapted to be depressed with respect to thesecond actuation member 2212, wherein the driving end of the actuatingcable 222 is connected with the first actuation members 2211 so thatwhen the first actuation members 2211 is depressed, the driving end ofthe actuating cable 222 is pulled for pulling the driven end thereof soas to release the engagement between the slider platform 12 and themounting base 11.

Referring to FIG. 4 to FIG. 5 of the drawings, when the engagementbetween the slider platform 12 and the mounting base 11 is released,since the sliding tracks 111 are downwardly inclined towards the frontside of the cabinet 80, therefore, the sliding platform 12 willautomatically due to natural gravitational force slide alone the slidingtracks 111 for moving from the storage position and the accessingposition, as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

It is worth mentioning at this point that in order to enhance theautomatic sliding motion of the slider platform 12 when the engagementbetween the slider platform 12 and the mounting base 11 has beenreleased, the actuation unit 22 further comprises a pair of resilientmembers 223 mounted at the sliding tracks 111 respectively for normallyexerting an initial forward pushing force towards the slider platform 12in such a manner that when the engagement between the slider platform 12and the mounting base 11 is released, the resilient members 223 willpush the slider platform 12 frontwardly towards the accessing position.In other words, the slider platform 12 is effectively pushed to slidefrom the storage position towards the accessing position in the aboveautomatic manner.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the sliding tracks 111 canbe pivotally and adjustably mounted at the drawer compartment 70 foradjusting an angle of inclination of the docking frame 10 so as to allowthe present invention to be utilized in a wide variety of circumstances.In order to further enhance universality of the present invention, themounting base 11 may further comprise an inclination adjuster 14 whichhas a slider slot 141 formed on the mounting base 10 and comprises aslider member 142 which is extended from the slider platform 12 and isslidably engaged with the slider slot 141 to selectively adjust aninclination angle of the slider platform 12 with respect to the mountingbase 10.

The operation and application of the present invention is as follows:the docking frame 10 is received in the drawer compartment 70 whereinthe drawer or any other container, such as a rubbish bin, is supportedon the slider platform 12. The actuator 221 is extended from the sliderplatform 12 to an exterior of the cabinet 80 so that the user is able toactuate it at a distance. It is important to emphasis that actuator 221is preferably to be positioned on a ground surface so that the user mayoperate the actuator by his/her foot without using his/her hands.

Referring to FIG. 7 to FIG. 9 of the drawings, a drawer releasing devicefor a cabinet 80′ having a drawer compartment 70′ according to a secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The drawerreleasing device comprises a docking frame 10′ and a locking arrangement20′ comprising an actuation unit 22′.

The docking frame 10′, which is adapted for supporting within the drawercompartment 70′ of the cabinet 80′, comprises a mounting base 11′ and apreferably metallic slider platform 12′ slidably and inclinedly mountedon the mounting base 11′ to slide between a slide-in storage positionthat the slider platform 12′ is disposed within the drawer compartment70′ and a slide-out accessing position that the slider platform 12′ isslid out of the drawer compartment 70′, wherein the mounting base 11′ isnormally retained at the slide-in storage position.

The actuation unit 22′ comprises a hand-free actuator 221′ positionedout of the drawer compartment 70′ and an actuating cable 222′ which isextended from the docking frame 10′ to the actuator 221′ and is arrangedin such a manner that when the actuator 221′ is operated for providingan initial momentum of the slider platform 12′, the slider platform 12′automatically slides out of the drawer compartment 70′ in a hand-freemanner.

According to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention,the locking arrangement 20′ further comprises a locking unit 21′substantially mounted on the mounting base 11′ to releasably engage withthe slider platform 12′ to lock up the slider platform 12′ at thestorage position, wherein the locking unit 21′ comprises at least onemagnetic member 211′ arranged to normally exert a magnetic attractiveforce toward the docking frame 10′ so as to normally retain the sliderplatform 12′ at the storage position. In this first alternative mode, acontainer 90′ is supported by the slider platform 12′ so that when theslider platform 12′ slides out of the drawer compartment 70′, thecontainer 90′ is driven to slide out of the drawer compartment 70′. Theactuator 221′ is operated to release the engagement of the locking unit21′ through the actuating cable 222′. In other words, the magneticmember 211′ is provided at the mounting base 11′ for exerting magneticattractive force towards the slider platform 12′ so as to normallyretain the slider platform 12′ at the storage position.

The locking unit 21′ further comprises a retention member 212′ extendedto align with the container 90′ and the slider platform 12′ wherein themagnetic member 211′ is spacedly provided on the retention member 212′for magnetically retaining the slider platform 12′ and the container 90′at the storage position. The locking unit 21′ further comprises aconnecting member 213′ extended from the mounting base 11′ of thedocking frame 10′ to rotatably connect with the retention member 212′,in such a manner that the retention member 212′ is capable of pivotallyrotating about a rotation pivot 214′ mounted on the connecting member213′. Preferably, the magnetic member 211′ is embodied as a magneticelement provided on the retention member 212′, wherein when the sliderplatform 12′ is in the normal storage position, the magnetic member 211′is arranged to magnetically attract the slider platform 12′ on themounting base 11′ so as to retain the container 90′ within the drawercompartment 70′. In other words, when the magnetic engagement betweenthe slider platform 12′ and the retention member 212′ ceases to exist,the slider platform 12′ is arranged to slide out of the drawercompartment 70′ so as to be accessed by the user of the presentinvention. Since the slider platform 12′ is inclinedly mounted withrespective to horizontal, when the magnetic attractive force ceases toexist, the slider platform 12′, owning to its own weight, will slide outof the drawer compartment 70′ due to normal gravitational force. Theactuating cable 222′ is extended to couple with the retention member212′ and is arranged to pivotally move the retention member 212′ whenthe actuator 221′ is operated for releasing a magnetic engagementbetween the mounting base 11′ and the slider platform 12′.

The magnetic member 211′ can comprise two or more magnetic elements2111′ spacedly provided at the retention member 212′, wherein the sliderplatform 12′ is made of magnetic attractive material (such as metal)such that the magnets are magnetically locked up with the sliderplatform 12′ at the storage position. Alternatively, the magnetic member211′ can also comprise two or more first magnetic elements 2111′spacedly provided at the retention member 212′ and two or more secondmagnetic elements 2112′ (FIG. 7 and FIG. 9) spacedly provided at theslider platform 12′ to align with the first magnetic elements 2111′respectively such that the slider platform 12′ is magnetically locked atthe storage position when the second magnetic elements 2112′ aremagnetically engaged with the first magnetic elements 2111′respectively.

As shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 9 of the drawings, the connecting member 213′is pivotally coupled with a mid-portion of the retention member 212′ toform a T-shape structure, wherein the actuating cable 222′, which isembodied as a metal wire enclosed with durable and flexible plasticmaterial, is extended to couple with an end portion of the retentionmember 212′ such that when the actuating cable 222′ is pulled via theactuator 221′, the retention member 212′ is pivotally moved tomagnetically disengage with the slider platform 12′. Moreover, thelocking unit 21′ further comprises a resilient element 215′ couplingbetween the connecting member 213′ and the retention member 212′ forapplying an urging force against the retention member 212′ to pivotallypull back the retention member 212′ to its original position when thepulling force of the actuating cable 222′ has been released.

Where the container 90′ has a container cover 91′, the drawer releasingdevice further comprises a cover control 30′ for automaticallycontrolling a pivot movement of a container cover 91′ of a container 90′which sits on the slider platform 12′, wherein the cover control 30′comprises a guiding track 31′ having a convex guiding surface 311′, anda height adjustable support 32′ suspendedly supported the guiding track31′ within the drawer compartment 70′ at a position above the containercover 91′, in such a manner that when the slider platform 12′ is slid atthe slide-in storage position, the guiding track 31′ is adapted forguiding the container cover 91′ at the convex guiding surface 311′ toclose the container 90′, and when the slider platform 12′ is slid at theslide-out accessing position, the guiding track 31′ is adapted forguiding the container cover 91′ at the convex guiding surface 311′ toopen the container 90′. The cover control 30′ may also comprise aplurality of guiding rollers 32′ rotatably provided on the guiding track31′ for further allowing smooth opening or closing of the containercover 91′.

Referring to FIG. 10, FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B of the drawings, a drawerreleasing device according to a third preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated, in which the drawer releasing devicefor a cabinet 80″ comprises a docking frame 10″ and a lockingarrangement 20″. The cabinet 80″, such as a conventional cabinet, has atleast one drawer compartment 70″ formed between two sidewalls 81″,wherein the drawer releasing device is preferably to be fittedlyreceived in the drawer compartment 70″ for releasably receiving a drawer60″ therein.

Thus, the docking frame 10″ is adapted for supporting within the drawercompartment 70″ of the cabinet 80″, and comprises a mounting base 11″and a slider platform 12″ slidably and inclinedly mounted on themounting base 11″ to slide between a slide-in storage position that theslider platform 12″ is disposed within the drawer compartment 70″, and aslide-out accessing position that the slider platform 12″ is slid out ofthe drawer compartment 70″.

On the other hand, the locking arrangement 20″ comprises a locking unit21″ and an actuation unit 22″, in which the locking unit 21″ issubstantially mounted on the mounting base 11″ to releasably engage withthe slider platform 12″ to lock up the slider platform 12″ at thestorage position, wherein the locking unit 21″ comprises at least onemagnetic member 211″ arranged to normally exert a magnetic attractiveforce toward the docking frame 10″ so as to normally retain the sliderplatform 12″ at the storage position. Accordingly, the slider platform12″ further comprises a metallic panel 121″ provided on a rear side ofthe drawer 60″ for aligning with the magnetic member 211″, wherein themagnetic member 211″ is arranged to magnetically attract the metallicpanel 121″ for retaining the slider platform 12″ and the drawer 60″within the drawer compartment 70″.

The actuation unit 22″ comprises an actuator 221″ positioned out of thedrawer compartment 70″ and an actuating cable 222″ which is extendedfrom the locking unit 21″ to the actuator 221″ and is arranged in such amanner that when the actuator 221″ is operated to release an engagementof the locking unit 21″ through the actuating cable 222″, the sliderplatform 12″ automatically slides out of the drawer compartment 70″ in ahand-free manner.

Accordingly, the locking arrangement 20″ further comprises a pusherarrangement 23″ operatively connecting the actuation unit 22″ and thelocking unit 21″ in such a manner that when the actuation unit 22″ isactivated to release the slider platform 12″, the pusher arrangement 23″is arranged to initiate a pusher action towards the slider platform 12″so as to assist smooth travel thereof from the storage position to theaccessing position. In other words, the pusher arrangement 23″ helps theslider platform 12″ to operate smoothly when the actuation unit 22″ isactivated.

More specifically, the pusher arrangement 23″ comprises a pusher member231″ movably mounted on the mounting base 11″ to selectively push theslider platform 12″ moving from the storage position and the accessingposition, and a gear unit 232″ operatively connecting actuating unit 22″with the slider platform 12″, wherein the actuating cable 222″ has afirst end connected to the actuator 221″ and a second end connected tothe gear unit 232″ in such a manner that when the actuator 221″ ismanually actuated by the user of the present invention, the actuatingcable 222″ is also driven to pull the gear unit 232″ so as to rotate thegear unit 232″ for driving the pusher member 231″ to pivotally move topush the slider platform 12″ out of the drawer compartment 70″. In otherwords, the pusher member 231″ is adapted to disengage the magneticattraction between the magnetic elements 2111″. Moreover, the pushermember 231″, which is pivotally coupled with the mounting base, has anarc-shaped pushing surface 2311″ to push the slider platform 12″ whenthe pusher member 231″ is driven to pivotally move by the actuator 221″via the actuating cable 222″.

According to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention,the magnetic member 211″ comprises a plurality of magnetic elements2111″ provided on the pusher member 231″ and the slider platform 12″respectively, wherein when the slider platform 12″ is in the normalstorage position, the magnetic elements 2111″ are aligned with eachother so as to magnetically attract the slider platform 12″ to themounting base 11″. In other words, when the magnetic engagement betweenthe slider platform 12″ and the retention member 212″ ceases to exist,the slider platform 12″ is arranged to slide out of the drawercompartment 70″ so as to be accessed by the user of the presentinvention. Since the slider platform 12″ is inclinedly mounted withrespective to horizontal, when the magnetic attractive force ceases toexist, the slider platform 12″, owning to its own weight, will slide outof the drawer compartment 70″ due to normal gravitational force.

Alternatively, the magnetic member 211″ comprises two or more firstmagnetic elements 2111″ spacedly provided at the mounting base and twoor more second magnetic elements 2112″ spacedly provided at the sliderplatform 12″ to align with the first magnetic elements 2111″respectively such that the slider platform 12″ is magnetically locked atthe storage position when the second magnetic elements 2112″ aremagnetically engaged with the first magnetic elements 2111″respectively.

The pusher member 231″ assists sliding of the slider platform 12″ bypushing the slider platform 12″ out from the drawer compartment 70″. Itis worth mentioning that the magnetic element 2111″ can be attached onthe corresponding position of the drawer 60″, the container 90″ or theslider platform 12″ so that when the pusher member 231″ exerts a pushingforce against the corresponding pusher object (i.e. the slider platform12″, the container 90″ or the drawer 60″), the magnetic engagement ofthe magnetic member 211″ is broken to allow the slider platform 12″sliding out of the drawer compartment 60″.

The gear unit 232″ comprises a bevel gear unit comprising a first and asecond gear member 2321″, 2322″ engaging with each other, wherein thefirst gear member 2321″ is vertically supported by the docking frame 10″and connected with the actuating cable 222″ while the second gear member2322″ is horizontally supported by the docking frame 10″ via a gearshaft to connect with the pusher member 231″ while engaging with thefirst gear member 2321″. Thus, when the actuating cable 222″ is actuated(i.e. pulled by the actuator 221″), the first gear member 2321″ ispushed to rotate (about a horizontal axis) and drives the second gear2322″ to rotate as well (about a vertical axis). The pusher member 231″has one end connected with the second gear 2322″ in such a manner thatwhen the second gears 2322″ is driven to rotate, the pusher member 231″is also driven to move in a pivotal manner about the gear shaft so as topivotally push the slider platform 12″ to slide out of the drawercompartment 60″.

Similar to the first preferred embodiment, the actuator 221″ comprisesfirst and second actuation members 2211″, 2212″ pivotally connected witheach other in such a manner that the first actuation member 2211″ isadapted to be depressed with respect to the second actuation member2212″, wherein the driving end of the actuating cable 222″ is connectedwith the first actuation members 2211″ so that when the first actuationmembers 2211″ is depressed, the driving end of the actuating cable 222″is pulled for pulling the driven end thereof so as to drive the firstgear member 2321″ to rotate.

The pusher arrangement 23″ further comprises a resilient element 233″mounted on the docking frame 10″ to normally exert a pulling forcetoward the pusher member 231″ for restoring the pusher member 231″ intoits original position when it has pushed the slider platform 12″ to theaccessing position.

Moreover, in order to further enhance the sliding movement of the sliderplatform 12″, according to the second preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, each of the slider tracks 111″ comprises a first anda second track members 1111″, 1112″ slidably engaging with each other,wherein then first track member 1111″ is affixed on the docking frame10″ while the second track member 1112″ is affixed on the sliderplatform 12″ so as to allow the slider platform 12″ to slide between thestorage position and the accessing position smoothly.

As shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 of the drawings, the drawer releasingdevice may further comprise a cover control 24A for automaticallycontrolling a pivot movement of a container cover 91A of a container 90Awhich sits on the slider platform 12′, wherein the cover control 24Acomprises a guiding track 241A having a convex guiding surface 2411A,and a height adjustable support 242A suspendedly supported the guidingtrack 241A within the drawer compartment 70′ at a position above thecontainer cover 91A, in such a manner that when the slider platform 12′is slid at the slide-in storage position, the guiding track 91A isadapted for guiding the container cover 91A at the convex guidingsurface 2411A to close the container 90A, and when the slider platform12′ is slid at the slide-out accessing position, the guiding track 241Ais adapted for guiding the container cover 91A at the convex guidingsurface 2411A to open the container 90A. A plurality of guiding rollersis suspendedly affixed on the convex guiding surface 2411A forsmoothening the movement of the container cover 91A.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of thepresent invention as shown in the drawings and described above isexemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have beenfully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown anddescribed for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structuralprinciples of the present invention and is subject to change withoutdeparture from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes allmodifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims.

1. A drawer releasing device for a cabinet having a drawer compartment,comprising: a docking frame, which is adapted for supporting within saiddrawer compartment of said drawer, comprising a mounting base and aslider platform slidably and inclinedly mounted on said mounting base toslide between a slide-in storage position that said slider platform isdisposed within said drawer compartment and a slide-out accessingposition that said slider platform is slid out of said drawercompartment, wherein said mounting base is normally retained at saidslide-in storage position; and an actuation unit which comprises ahand-free actuator positioned out of said drawer compartment and anactuating cable which is extended from said docking frame to saidactuator and is arranged in such a manner that when said actuator isoperated for providing an initial momentum of said slider platform, saidslider platform is automatically sliding out of said drawer compartmentin a hand-free manner.
 2. The drawer releasing device, as recited inclaim 1, further comprising a locking unit mounted on said mounting baseto releasably engage with said slider platform to lock up said sliderplatform at said storage position, wherein said actuator is operated torelease an engagement of said locking unit through said actuating cable,said slider platform is set to be free for sliding out of said drawercompartment.
 3. The drawer releasing device, as recited in claim 2,wherein said locking unit comprises at least one magnetic memberprovided at said mounting base for exerting a magnetic attractive forcetowards said slider platform so as to normally retain said sliderplatform at said storage position.
 4. The drawer releasing device, asrecited in claim 3, wherein said locking unit further comprises aconnecting member transversely extended from said mounting base and aretention member longitudinally and pivotally extended from saidconnecting member to support said magnetic member at said retentionmember, wherein said actuating cable is extended to couple with saidretention member and is arranged to pivotally move said retention memberwhen said actuator is operated for releasing a magnetic engagementbetween said mounting base and said slider platform.
 5. The drawerreleasing device, as recited in claim 4, wherein said magnetic membercomprises two or more magnetic elements spacedly provided at saidretention member, wherein said slider platform is made of magneticattractive material such that said magnetic elements are magneticallylocked up with said slider platform at said storage position.
 6. Thedrawer releasing device, as recited in claim 4, wherein said magneticmember comprises two or more first magnetic elements spacedly providedat said retention member and two or more second magnetic elementsspacedly provided at said slider platform to align with said firstmagnetic elements respectively such that said slider platform ismagnetically locked at said storage position when said second magneticelements are magnetically engaged with said first magnetic elementsrespectively.
 7. The drawer releasing device, as recited in claim 5,wherein said connecting member is pivotally coupled with a mid-portionof said retention member to form a T-shape structure, wherein saidactuating cable, which is embodied as a metal wire enclosed with durableand flexible plastic material, is extended to couple with an end portionof said retention member such that when said actuating cable is pulledvia said actuator, said retention member is pivotally moved tomagnetically disengage with said slider platform.
 8. The drawerreleasing device, as recited in claim 6, wherein said connecting memberis pivotally coupled with a mid-portion of said retention member to forma T-shape structure, wherein said actuating cable, which is embodied asa metal wire enclosed with durable and flexible plastic material, isextended to couple with an end portion of said retention member suchthat when said actuating cable is pulled via said actuator, saidretention member is pivotally moved to magnetically disengage with saidslider platform.
 9. The drawer releasing device, as recited in claim 7,wherein said locking unit further comprises a resilient element couplingbetween said connecting member and said retention member for applying anurging force against said retention member to pivotally pull back saidretention member to its original position.
 10. The drawer releasingdevice, as recited in claim 8, wherein said locking unit furthercomprises a resilient element coupling between said connecting memberand said retention member for applying an urging force against saidretention member to pivotally pull back said retention member to itsoriginal position.
 11. The drawer releasing device, as recited in claim1, further comprising a cover control for automatically controlling apivot movement of a container cover of a container which sits on saidslider platform, wherein said cover control comprises a guiding trackhaving a convex guiding surface, and a height adjustable supportsuspendedly supported said guiding track within said drawer compartmentat a position above said container cover, in such a manner that whensaid slider platform is slid at said slide-in storage position, saidguiding track is adapted for guiding said container cover at said convexguiding surface to close said container, and when said slider platformis slid at said slide-out accessing position, said guiding track isadapted for guiding said container cover at said convex guiding surfaceto open said container.
 12. The drawer releasing device, as recited inclaim 9, further comprising a cover control for automaticallycontrolling a pivot movement of a container cover of a container whichsits on said slider platform, wherein said cover control comprises aguiding track having a convex guiding surface, and a height adjustablesupport suspendedly supported said guiding track within said drawercompartment at a position above said container cover, in such a mannerthat when said slider platform is slid at said slide-in storageposition, said guiding track is adapted for guiding said container coverat said convex guiding surface to close said container, and when saidslider platform is slid at said slide-out accessing position, saidguiding track is adapted for guiding said container cover at said convexguiding surface to open said container.
 13. The drawer releasing device,as recited in claim 10, further comprising a cover control forautomatically controlling a pivot movement of a container cover of acontainer which sits on said slider platform, wherein said cover controlcomprises a guiding track having a convex guiding surface, and a heightadjustable support suspendedly supported said guiding track within saiddrawer compartment at a position above said container cover, in such amanner that when said slider platform is slid at said slide-in storageposition, said guiding track is adapted for guiding said container coverat said convex guiding surface to close said container, and when saidslider platform is slid at said slide-out accessing position, saidguiding track is adapted for guiding said container cover at said convexguiding surface to open said container.
 14. The drawer releasing device,as recited in claim 1, wherein said actuating unit further comprises apusher member movably mounted at said mounting base and being driven bysaid actuator via said actuating cable, such that when said pushermember is actuated by said actuator, said pusher member pushes saidslider platform out of said drawing compartment.
 15. The drawerreleasing device, as recited in claim 3, wherein said actuating unitfurther comprises a pusher member movably mounted at said mounting baseand being driven by said actuator via said actuating cable, such thatwhen said pusher member is actuated by said actuator, said pusher memberpushes said slider platform out of said drawing compartment.
 16. Thedrawer releasing device, as recited in claim 14, wherein said pushermember, which is pivotally coupled with said mounting base, has anarc-shaped pushing surface to push at said slider platform when saidpusher member is driven to pivotally move by said actuator via saidactuating cable.
 17. The drawer releasing device, as recited in claim15, wherein said pusher member, which is pivotally coupled with saidmounting base, has an arc-shaped pushing surface to push at said sliderplatform when said pusher member is driven to pivotally move by saidactuator via said actuating cable.
 18. The drawer releasing device, asrecited in claim 17, wherein said magnetic member comprises two or moremagnetic elements spacedly provided at said mounting base, wherein saidslider platform is made of magnetic attractive material such that saidmagnetic elements are magnetically locked up with said slider platformat said storage position.
 19. The drawer releasing device, as recited inclaim 17, wherein said magnetic member comprises two or more firstmagnetic elements spacedly provided at said mounting base and two ormore second magnetic elements spacedly provided at said slider platformto align with said first magnetic elements respectively such that saidslider platform is magnetically locked at said storage position whensaid second magnetic elements are magnetically engaged with said firstmagnetic elements respectively.
 20. The drawer releasing device, asrecited in claim 18, further comprising a cover control forautomatically controlling a pivot movement of a container cover of acontainer which sits on said slider platform, wherein said cover controlcomprises a guiding track having a convex guiding surface, and a heightadjustable support suspendedly supported said guiding track within saiddrawer compartment at a position above said container cover, in such amanner that when said slider platform is slid at said slide-in storageposition, said guiding track is adapted for guiding said container coverat said convex guiding surface to close said container, and when saidslider platform is slid at said slide-out accessing position, saidguiding track is adapted for guiding said container cover at said convexguiding surface to open said container.
 21. The drawer releasing device,as recited in claim 19, further comprising a cover control forautomatically controlling a pivot movement of a container cover of acontainer which sits on said slider platform, wherein said cover controlcomprises a guiding track having a convex guiding surface, and a heightadjustable support suspendedly supported said guiding track within saiddrawer compartment at a position above said container cover, in such amanner that when said slider platform is slid at said slide-in storageposition, said guiding track is adapted for guiding said container coverat said convex guiding surface to close said container, and when saidslider platform is slid at said slide-out accessing position, saidguiding track is adapted for guiding said container cover at said convexguiding surface to open said container.